Written Answers Wednesday 2 June 2010

Scottish Executive

Community Councils

Hugh O'Donnell (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many community councils are members of the Association of Scottish Community Councils.

John Swinney: Information provided to us by the Association of Scottish Community Councils show that as at 31 March 2010 they had 710 member Community Councils.

Community Councils

Hugh O'Donnell (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many community councils have had their membership of the Association of Scottish Community Councils rescinded by the association in each year since its inception.

John Swinney: This information is not held centrally.

Crofters Commission

Stewart Maxwell (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to introduce elected commissioners.

Roseanna Cunningham: The Crofting Reform (Scotland) Bill, currently undergoing Scottish parliamentary scrutiny, proposes to make the Crofters Commission more accountable by providing for elected commissioners. The Scottish Parliament approved that principle of the bill at the debate held on 13 May 2010. The government anticipates that the earliest date by which elected crofting commissioners may take up post would be late 2011.

  Commissioners such as the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman, Public Appointments Commissioner etc are appointed by Her Majesty the Queen following recommendation by the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body (SPCB) and fall out with the remit of the Scottish Government and we are therefore unable to comment on those types of commissioner appointments.

Culture

Stuart McMillan (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what assistance it provides to cultural and heritage events in the West of Scotland.

Fiona Hyslop: The Scottish Government provides assistance to cultural and heritage events in the West of Scotland in partnership with key agencies and organisations with responsibility for promoting Scotland internationally. Examples include:

  EventScotland - has supported the Gourock Highland Games, the European Pipe Band Champions in Inverclyde and the East Renfrewshire Food Festival. Through Homecoming, events celebrating Burns were supported in North Ayrshire and St Andrew’s Day celebrations were supported in each local authority area.

  The Scottish Arts Council - awarded a total of 61 awards to the West of Scotland during 2008-09 and 73 awards during 2009-10. These awards represent a range of activity, which will include performances, exhibitions, publications, as well as outreach or other activity that would meet a broad definition of a "cultural event". A significant amount of those awards were made to local authorities in respect of Youth Music and capital / infrastructure awards.

Curriculum for Excellence

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many HM Inspectorate of Education (HMIE) staff will be diverted from their normal duties to assist with the implementation of the Curriculum for Excellence, also expressed as a percentage, and what percentage of the time of each such staff member this will involve.

Michael Russell: Detailed preparations are still underway. As a minimum, 1000 days of inspector time will be diverted through the postponement of the inspections of secondary schools and some primary schools and early years centres. This represents around 5% of the total number of inspector days available annually.

Curriculum for Excellence

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) hours, (b) days or (c) weeks it expects that HM Inspectorate of Education will need to work to deliver the successful implementation of the Curriculum for Excellence.

Michael Russell: I refer the member to the answer to questions S3W-33713 and S3W-33716 on 2 June 2010. In addition, the successful implementation of Curriculum for Excellence is being taken forward in partnership. HMIE’s contributions are in addition to those teachers, head teachers, local authority staff and other national partner organisations.

  All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.

Curriculum for Excellence

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many schools it has identified as requiring the support of HM Inspectorate of Education (HMIE) staff; how these schools have been identified, and how many schools will have to be allocated an HMIE staff member to assist in the implementation of the Curriculum for Excellence.

Michael Russell: Detailed preparations are still underway. A plan for support will be agreed with the individual local authorities by the end of June. Within this, much work will take place with groups of schools and local authority level, in addition to work with individual schools.

Curriculum for Excellence

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how much HM Inspectorate of Education time will be allocated to each school to assist in implementing the Curriculum for Excellence once it has been identified as needing support.

Michael Russell: Within the overall time available, the support being given to schools and education authorities will be proportionate to the need identified in discussion between the HMIE District Inspector and individual education authorities.

Curriculum for Excellence

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether secondary schools already identified through the HM Inspectorate of Education inspections as having weaknesses will continue to receive follow-up visits over the period of August to December 2010.

Michael Russell: Follow-through inspections will continue as planned.

Curriculum for Excellence

Margaret Smith (Edinburgh West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many schools have (a) requested and (b) received additional practice materials for the Curriculum for Excellence, as committed as part of the 10-point plan for the Curriculum for Excellence, and whether any further materials will be provided.

Michael Russell: Detailed preparations are still underway. A plan for support will be agreed between HM Inspectorate of Education and the individual local authorities by the end of June. Within this, much work will take place with groups of schools and local authority level, in addition to work with individual schools.

  We have also published support materials on the Curriculum for Excellence website, including simplified versions of Building the Curriculum 3 and 5, over 50 examples of emerging examples of curriculum plans, examples of practice across the eight curriculum areas, and nearly 100 emerging exemplars of approaches to assessment.

  Learning and Teaching Scotland is engaging with practitioners to assess the ongoing need for supportive materials on CfE, both on exemplification and the National Assessment Resource, and will be producing further materials in priority areas.

Curriculum for Excellence

Margaret Smith (Edinburgh West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many local authorities have (a) requested and (b) received a share of the £3 million to support Curriculum for Excellence quality assurance and moderation of assessment, as committed as part of the 10-point plan for the Curriculum for Excellence, and how much of this funding remains to be distributed.

Michael Russell: The Scottish Government is in discussion with COSLA to agree a distribution allocation to local authorities for the share of the £3 million funding. COSLA expects to be in a position to make firm proposals on distribution by the end of June. We would then seek to issue allocation letters to local authorities as soon as possible after the allocations are agreed. Local authorities are aware of this process and timetable.

Curriculum for Excellence

Margaret Smith (Edinburgh West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many local authorities have developed systems to check for consistent assessment of pupils under the Curriculum for Excellence since the announcement of the 10-point plan for the Curriculum for Excellence.

Michael Russell: All local authorities are responsible for implementing their approaches to assessment of pupils as outlined in Building the Curriculum 5: The Framework for Assessment. The key principles of the quality assurance and moderation approaches in assessment for Curriculum for Excellence is to ensure that learning and teaching and assessment is planned in a coherent way and that assessment is valid and reliable. Efficient and effective approaches to quality assurance and moderation will require building on local practices, developing working approaches across education authorities and partners and linking this work at a national level.

Curriculum for Excellence

Margaret Smith (Edinburgh West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it has taken to build literacy and numeracy units into English and maths qualifications since the announcement of the 10-point plan for the Curriculum for Excellence and when the details of these qualifications will be made available.

Michael Russell: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-33097 on 28 April 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx .

Curriculum for Excellence

Margaret Smith (Edinburgh West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many excellence groups have been established since the announcement of the 10-point plan for the Curriculum for Excellence; what actions each of these groups has taken; how many (a) local authorities and (b) schools each has worked with, and what feedback the Scottish Government has received regarding their effectiveness.

Michael Russell: Eighteen excellence groups have been established which cover 15 subject areas, health and wellbeing together with two thematic groups on higher order skills and on head teacher’s role in implementing Curriculum for Excellence. The arrangements for some groups need to be finalised and it is anticipated that they will all have met by September.

Curriculum for Excellence

Margaret Smith (Edinburgh West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether a member of the National Parent Forum Scotland has been appointed to the Curriculum for Excellence management board, as committed as part of the 10-point plan for the Curriculum for Excellence, and, if not, when this will be actioned.

Michael Russell: Mr Gerry McTiernan, Vice-Chair of the National Parent Forum Scotland, is now a member of the Curriculum for Excellence Management Board and attended the meeting of the board held on 22 April 2010.

Curriculum for Excellence

Margaret Smith (Edinburgh West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it has taken since the announcement of the Curriculum for Excellence 10-point plan to involve the National Parent Forum Scotland and pupil councils in improving Curriculum for Excellence communication.

Michael Russell: The National Parent Forum Scotland (NPFS) is now represented on the Curriculum for Excellence Management Board and a NPFS representative attended the management board meeting on 22 April 2010.

  Several of the forum members have been involved in a range of opportunities to contribute to developments on Curriculum for Excellence, including curriculum assessment review groups and the ADES Partnership group. The forum was also represented at a meeting of parent bodies which met on 4 May 2010 to discuss how the parental perspective could be reflected in the developing materials on new assessment arrangements to support Curriculum for Excellence. The forum have been looking at opportunities locally to share information with parents on the 10-point action plan and on Curriculum for Excellence more generally.

  Many schools involve pupils in demonstrating Curriculum for Excellence to parents through events, displays and open days. The National Parental Involvement Co-ordinator and officials will continue to work closely with the forum and with local authorities to involve parents and parent councils and pupils and pupil councils, in improving Curriculum for Excellence communication.

Curriculum for Excellence

Margaret Smith (Edinburgh West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it has taken to establish a stakeholder group to advise on the future development of the Curriculum for Excellence since the announcement of the 10-point plan for the Curriculum for Excellence and, if this has been established, how many times it has met; what stakeholders are represented, and when the details of these meetings will be made available.

Michael Russell: Following the issue of written invitations to the stakeholder group its first meeting took place on 2 June. No further meetings have taken place. We do not routinely make available the details of private discussions with stakeholders.

  Representation on the group includes:

  Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations

  Volunteer Development Scotland

  Federation of Small Businesses Scotland

  Alliance of Sector Skills Councils

  Scottish Council for Development and Industry

  Scottish Youth Parliament

  National Union of Students Scotland

  Scotland’s Commissioner for Children and Young People

  Young Scot

  Youthlink Scotland

  The Church of Scotland

  Scottish Catholic Education Service

  Children in Scotland

  Confederation of British Industry.

  Other members will be appointed. The purpose of the group is to widen involvement in the Curriculum for Excellence (CfE) and to ensure that the CfE is understood and embedded across Scottish society.

Curriculum for Excellence

Margaret Smith (Edinburgh West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what matters were discussed at its meeting of 29 April 2010 with the Educational Institute of Scotland (EIS); what agreements were reached regarding how to move forward with the Curriculum for Excellence; what other meetings it has since had with the EIS, and what was discussed.

Michael Russell: I met with the EIS Executive on 29 April 2010 and 13 May 2010. We held positive and constructive discussions on taking forward the implementation of curriculum for excellence and our progress on the 10-point plan. I meet regularly with the EIS Executive and this will continue. Scottish Government officials also meet regularly with EIS representatives, most recently on 10 May 2010.

Curriculum for Excellence

Margaret Smith (Edinburgh West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it has taken to work with the Educational Institute for Scotland (EIS) on how to build teachers’ confidence in the Curriculum for Excellence; what actions will be taken as a result of this work, and when the details will be made available.

Michael Russell: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-33809 on 2 June 2010.

  In addition, the Scottish Government has worked in close partnership with EIS and others on the implementation programme for Curriculum for Excellence (CfE) through the CfE Management Board since August 2008. It is also represented on Qualifications Governing Group. The implementation programme is designed to put in place all the measures necessary to enable teachers to deliver the CfE with confidence. The ten point plan to support implementation is designed to enhance confidence in the CfE among teachers. At my recent meetings, I have assured EIS that I will consider carefully any further proposals it may wish to submit.

Curriculum for Excellence

Margaret Smith (Edinburgh West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive when the next update will be given regarding the development of the new national qualifications.

Michael Russell: SQA published on its website the design principles for the new National 4 and National 5 qualifications on 30 March 2010. The website will shortly carry progress reports on development of the qualifications across the eight curriculum areas. Full reports and details of the future courses will be available in July 2010. Further support material to assist schools with planning the senior phase, including qualifications, will be published in autumn 2010.

Curriculum for Excellence

Margaret Smith (Edinburgh West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what comments it has received from teachers since the announcement of the 10-point plan for the Curriculum for Excellence on the materials produced by Learning and Teaching Scotland for the Curriculum for Excellence.

Michael Russell: We have not formally received any comments from individual teachers on the materials for the delivery of Curriculum for Excellence which Learning and Teaching Scotland have provided since 30 March 2010.

  LTS is engaging with practitioners to assess the ongoing need for supportive materials on CfE, both on exemplification and the National Assessment Resource, and will be producing further materials in priority areas. They also routinely monitor and reply to individual enquires received.

Curriculum for Excellence

Margaret Smith (Edinburgh West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with School Leaders Scotland since the announcement of the 10-point plan for the Curriculum for Excellence regarding the development and implementation of the Curriculum for Excellence, and when the details of these discussions will be made available.

Michael Russell: School Leaders Scotland (SLS) is represented on the Curriculum for Excellence Management Board. The last meeting of the board was on 22 April 2010 at which SLS agreed the advice to the Cabinet Secretary that there should be no delay to the timetable of the Curriculum for Excellence Programme.

  We have not had any further discussions with SLS since the announcement of the 10 point plan to support the implementation of the Curriculum for Excellence though of course ministers and officials meet with members of SLS regularly.

Curriculum for Excellence

Margaret Smith (Edinburgh West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the Scottish Parent Teacher Council since the announcement of the 10-point plan for the Curriculum for Excellence regarding the development and implementation of the Curriculum for Excellence and when the details of these discussions will be made available.

Michael Russell: The Scottish Government meets regularly with a range of parent bodies, including the Scottish Parent Teacher Council (SPTC) on the development and implementation of Curriculum for Excellence.

  The SPTC was one of several bodies attending a meeting with the National Parental Involvement Co-ordinator on 4 May 2010 to discuss how the parental perspective could be reflected in the developing materials on new assessment arrangements to support Curriculum for Excellence. Officials also met with SPTC on 25 May 2010 to discuss parental involvement issues, including how the SPTC could be involved with communicating messages to parents on Curriculum for Excellence. The National Parental Involvement Co-ordinator and officials will continue to work closely with SPTC.

Curriculum for Excellence

Margaret Smith (Edinburgh West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the Scottish Secondary Teachers Association since the announcement of the 10-point plan for the Curriculum for Excellence regarding the development and implementation of the Curriculum for Excellence and when the details of these discussions will be made available.

Michael Russell: The Scottish Government regularly engages with the Scottish Secondary Teachers Association (SSTA) and other stakeholders to discuss matters of mutual interest. Since the announcement of the 10 point plan for Curriculum for Excellence we have held two discussions with the SSTA on 4 May and 21 May 2010. We do not routinely make available the details of private discussions with stakeholders.

Curriculum for Excellence

Margaret Smith (Edinburgh West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the Association of Head Teachers and Deputes in Scotland since the announcement of the 10-point plan for the Curriculum for Excellence regarding the development and implementation of the Curriculum for Excellence and when the details of these discussions will be made available.

Michael Russell: The Association of Head Teachers and Deputes in Scotland (AHDS) is represented on the Curriculum for Excellence Management Board. The last meeting of the board was on 22 April 2010 at which AHDS agreed the advice to the Cabinet Secretary that there should be no delay to the timetable of the CfE Programme though of course ministers and officials meet with members of AHDS regularly.

  We have not had any further discussions with AHDS since the announcement of the 10 point plan to support the implementation of Curriculum for Excellence.

Education

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many pupils have received educational maintenance allowances in (a) South and (b) East Ayrshire in each of the last five years.

Keith Brown: The following table shows the number of school pupils in East Ayrshire and South Ayrshire who received at least one Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA) payment in the academic years 2004-05 to 2008-09.

  School Pupils Receiving an EMA Payment in East Ayrshire and South Ayrshire – Academic Years 2004-05 to 2008-09

  

Academic Year
East Ayrshire
South Ayrshire
Total


2004-05
655
385
1,040


2005-06
690
555
1,245


2006-07
680
480
1,160


2007-08
665
455
1,120


2008-09
635
525
1,160



  Notes:

  1. Pupil numbers have been rounded up or down to the nearest five e.g. one, two round to 0; three, four round to five.

  2. The method of collecting and collating EMA data has been improved continually over the years of operation of the scheme. Care must therefore be taken when making comparisons between data from the first two years of operation (2004-05 and 2005-06) and that from later years.

  3. The academic year 2008-09 is the latest complete academic year for which information on EMA is available.

  The EMA scheme was introduced for eligible 16-year-olds in the academic year 2004-05. It was extended to eligible 17-year-olds in 2005-06, eligible 18-year-olds in 2006-07 and eligible 19-year-olds in 2007-08. Prior to its introduction, EMA was piloted in four local authorities including East Ayrshire. It was available for the full-age range (16-19) in each of the pilot areas from 2004-05 onwards.

Fisheries

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the outcomes were of the independent inquiry held into the Infectious Salmon Anaemia outbreak in Shetland announced in early 2009 by the Minister for Environment.

Roseanna Cunningham: The draft report into the Infectious Salmon Anaemia outbreak in Shetland is currently being finalised. The draft will then go to additional external experts for comment, before publication in August of this year.

Health

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to make representations to the UK Government regarding changes to criteria for uptake of Independent Living Fund payments.

Alex Neil: I have already been in correspondence with UK Ministers concerning this issue to highlight the negative repercussions which are likely to occur as a result of this change and to question the ILF’s decision to take this action with no prior consultation.

  The Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing, Nicola Sturgeon will be meeting the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, Iain Duncan Smith and will raise this issue within the context of tackling poverty.

  In addition, officials have also met with representatives from ILF to discuss this issue directly and will be meeting with DWP to discuss this further.

Higher Education

Claire Baker (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-32260 by Michael Russell on 18 March 2010, what appropriate Scottish solutions have been suggested in its discussions with students, student leaders, university principals, unions and the entire stakeholder community on the future of university funding.

Michael Russell: At this early stage, the discussions have been exploratory in nature and therefore no definitive solutions have been suggested thus far. I remain open to positive suggestions and would encourage all parties and the wider community to come forward with such helpful contributions.

Housing

John Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many housing stock transfers have been (a) subject and (b) not subject to ballots since 2006.

Alex Neil: Between 1 January 2006 and 31 May 2010, the number of local authority large scale voluntary stock transfer proposals (i.e. over 500 units) that have been a) subject to a ballot, is five and b) not subject to a ballot, is zero.

  Further details of the five areas that were balloted are given in the answer to question S3W-33795 on 2 June 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:

  http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.

Housing

John Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the result was of each housing stock transfer ballot, including turnout, since 2006.

Alex Neil: The results of each of the five stock transfer ballots since 1 January 2006 referred to in my answer to question S3W-33794 were as follows:

  

Council Area
Whole/Partial Transfer
Votes for Transfer (Number, %)
Votes Against Transfer (Number, %)
Turnout (%)


Renfrewshire
Whole 
4,214 (49.7%)
4,250 (50.2%)
8,474 (54.8%)


Renfrewshire(Ferguslie Park)
Partial 
117 (46.6%)
134 (53.4%)
251 (47.5%)


Inverclyde
Whole 
3,258 (71.3%)
1,306 (28.6%)
4,570 (71.0%) 


Stirling
Whole 
1,511 (31.9%)
3,220 (68.1%)
4,731 (67.2%)


Highland
Whole 
4,097 (40.1%)
6,060 (59.9%)
10,179 (63.3%)



  These ballot results mean that only a majority of tenants in Inverclyde have voted for a stock transfer proposal since 1 January 2006. In common with the answer to question S3W-33794 on 2 June 2010, this table only lists stock transfers of 500 properties or more. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.

Housing

John Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what registered social landlords have been involved in housing stock transfers since 2006.

Alex Neil: River Clyde Homes is the only Registered Social Landlord in Scotland that has been involved in housing stock transfers in terms of actually taking ownership of transferred stock. Another four organisations were involved in stock transfers at the time of each ballot but never took on any of the stock due to the failure of each ballot. Of these, only Ferguslie Park Housing Association was a Registered Social Landlord. The other three organisations were Renfrewshire Housing Association, Highland Housing Association and Housing Stirling but all three were never actually registered as social landlords due to the negative ballot results.

Housing

John Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many properties have been transferred through housing stock transfer in each year since 2006.

Alex Neil: The number of properties that have been transferred in connection with the five stock transfer proposals where ballots occurred after 1 January 2006 is 7,900. This excludes stock transfers of 500 properties or less.

Housing

John Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the value was of each housing stock transfer bid that went to ballot since 2006.

Alex Neil: The five stock transfer proposals listed in my answer to question S3W-33795 on 2 June 2010 were balloted upon on the following basis:

  

Council Area
Value of Stock Transfer Bid (£ million)


Renfrewshire
-£73.3 million


Renfrewshire (Ferguslie Park)
£0.0 million


Inverclyde
-£39.9 million


Stirling
+£16.4 million


Highland
+£13.4 million



  Note: In broad terms, these figures are the projected value of rental income in the 30 years after transfer minus all projected investment, management and maintenance costs expected over the next 30 years all expressed in today’s prices i.e. adjusted downwards for future interest rates and inflation. This method of calculating the value of the bid is known as a "Net Present Value" calculation. Where the value of the bid is negative, a larger payment to the landlord is usually required (to reflect expected future interest rates and inflation) than that indicated here as the subsidy is usually paid over a number of years rather than being paid in advance of need.

  This table excludes stock transfer proposals which involved under 500 properties and only covers stock transfers where ballots took place after 1 January 2006.

  All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.

Housing

John Lamont (Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many landlords have had their registrations under the Landlord Registration Scheme refused or revoked in each year since 2006.

Alex Neil: Up until 31 March 2010, 24 landlords have had their applications to register under the Landlord Registration Scheme refused and three landlords have had their registration revoked.

Housing

John Lamont (Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many landlords have been prosecuted for failure to register under the Landlord Registration Scheme in each year since 2006.

Alex Neil: From 1 January 2007, when the first registrations took place, to date, no landlords have been prosecuted for failure to register under the Private Landlord Registration Scheme.

  However, up to 31 March 2010 local authorities have applied over 1,300 late application fees linked to registration, and issued over 1,200 rent penalty notices to unregistered landlords.

Justice

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when the report of the multi-agency review that took place following the murder of Diane and Holly Fallon will be published.

Kenny MacAskill: The South West Scotland Community Justice Authority Strategic Oversight Group has commissioned a multi-agency review of this case. The Scottish Government has been informed that, as part of the significant review process, independent scrutiny will be provided by a panel of senior personnel from Responsible Authorities unconnected to the case prior to a final report being submitted to the South West Scotland Community Justice Authority Strategic Oversight Group. We understand that the review findings will be published once this process has been completed and we will provide an update when the timescales for this are clear.

  The police and the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service are keeping relatives of Diane and Holly Fallon up to date on developments.

Poverty

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many children in Scotland were living in poverty in each year between 2000 and 2009, broken down by local authority.

Alex Neil: The figures for Relative poverty for Children (below 60% of UK median income in the same year) in Scottish households between 2000 and 2009 are as follows:

  

 
Before Housing Costs
After Housing Costs


%
000
%
000


1999-2000
28
300
32
350


2000-01
27
280
32
340


2001-02
27
280
31
330


2002-03
25
260
27
280


2003-04
24
250
27
280


2004-05
21
210
25
250


2005-06
21
210
24
250


2006-07
21
210
25
250


2007-08
20
200
24
240


2008-09
21
210
26
260



  The figures above are from a survey which takes a random sample of the Scottish population. At smaller geographical areas the sample is limited to people from that area and so for smaller areas, estimates are less reliable.

  Only a few analyses are published for areas below Scotland level and are not published at Local Authority level. At sub-Scotland level estimates are published for the proportion of individuals in relative poverty in urban and rural areas and in deprived areas.

  The Scottish Government are aware of the demand for local authority level poverty figures and are carrying out work to improve the quality of income information recorded by the Scottish Household Survey with the aim of producing local authority - level estimates. For further detail please see the feasibility study which was carried out for this work in the government website or contact the income and poverty statistics team on 0131 244 0794 or social-justice-analysis@scotland.gsi.gov.uk.

  http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Statistics/Browse/Social-Welfare/IncomePoverty/income-imputation-study6.

  On the income and poverty website there is also a "data sources and suitability" page which discusses some of the main data sources available to researchers interested in income and poverty in Scotland and their strengths and weaknesses. This discusses some of the indicators which are currently available at local authority level to find out about income and poverty in Scotland.

  http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Statistics/Browse/Social-Welfare/IncomePoverty/income-data-sources.

Poverty

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many pensioners, were living in poverty in each year between 2000 and 2009, broken down by local authority.

Alex Neil: The figures for Relative poverty for Pensioners (below 60% of UK median income in the same year) in Scottish households between 2000 and 2009 are as follows:

  

 
Before Housing Costs
After Housing Costs


%
000
%
000


1999-2000
27
240
28
250


2000-01
24
210
25
220


2001-02
21
190
24
210


2002-03
23
210
25
220


2003-04
22
190
21
180


2004-05
20
190
16
150


2005-06
20
190
16
150


2006-07
20
180
15
140


2007-08
21
200
16
150


2008-09
16
150
11
110



  The figures above are from a survey which takes a random sample of the Scottish population. At smaller geographical areas the sample is limited to people from that area and so for smaller areas, estimates are less reliable.

  Only a few analyses are published for areas below Scotland level and are not published at local authority level. At sub-Scotland level estimates are published for the proportion of individuals in relative poverty in urban and rural areas and in deprived areas.

  The Scottish Government are aware of the demand for local authority level poverty figures and are carrying out work to improve the quality of income information recorded by the Scottish Household Survey with the aim of producing local authority - level estimates. For further detail please see the feasibility study which was carried out for this work in the government website or contact the income and poverty statistics team on 0131 244 0794 or social-justice-analysis@scotland.gsi.gov.uk.

  http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Statistics/Browse/Social-Welfare/IncomePoverty/income-imputation-study6.

  On the income and poverty website there is also a "data sources and suitability" page which discusses some of the main data sources available to researchers interested in income and poverty in Scotland and their strengths and weaknesses. This discusses some of the indicators which are currently available at local authority level to find out about income and poverty in Scotland.

  http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Statistics/Browse/Social-Welfare/IncomePoverty/income-data-sources.

Schools

Bob Doris (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide an update on the £1.25 billion school building programme.

Keith Brown: The Scottish Futures Trust (SFT) have today completed the process of informing all local authorities of when they can expect to receive funding for the 35 school building projects which have been announced so far in the first tranche of Scotland’s Schools for the Future, the Scottish Government’s school building programme.

  Eight councils had already been informed of their funding timetable earlier this year, and today the SFT informed the remaining 24 authorities of when they will receive their funding. The timetable for the 35 projects is set out in the following table.

  This represents much needed government investment worth over £300 million in new schools, benefitting pupils, teachers, families and communities the length and breadth of Scotland.

  Of course authorities contributing from their own resources may be able to start procurement, design and – in some cases – building prior to SFT resources coming on stream, should they wish to do.

  Funding Available from Financial Year

  

Local Authority
School Project 
 


Aberdeen City
Bucksburn / Newhills Primaries
2011-12


Aberdeenshire
Ellon Academy
2012-13


Aberdeenshire
Mearns Academy
2012-13


Angus
Brechin High School
2013-14


Argyll and Bute
Dunoon / Kirn / St. Mun’s Primaries
2013-14


Clackmannanshire 
St. John’s / Claremont Primaries
2011-12


Dumfries and Galloway
Dalbeattie High School
2013-14


Dundee
Harris Academy
2013-14


East Ayrshire 
Gargieston Primary
2011-12


East Dunbartonshire
Lairdsland Primary
2013-14


East Lothian
Haddington Infants / St. Mary’s Primary
2011-12


East Renfrewshire 
Eastwood High School 
2011-12


Edinburgh
James Gillespie’s High School
2014-15


Eilean Siar
Daliburgh Primary
2011-12


Falkirk 
RC primary school, yet to be named
2010-11


Fife
Auchmuty High School
2012-13


Glasgow 
Garrowhill Primary
2010-11


Glasgow
Glendale Primary
2012-13


Glasgow
St. Brendan’s Primary (and Kelso nursery)
2013-14


Highland
Wick High School
2012-13


Inverclyde
Lilybank / Glenburn Schools
2012-13


Midlothian
Lasswade High School 
2011-12


Moray
Milnes Primary
2013-14


North Ayrshire
Garnock Academy
2013-14


North Lanarkshire
Clyde Valley High School
2014-15


Orkney 
Evie Primary
2013-14


Perth and Kinross
Invergowrie Primary
2011-12


Renfrewshire
St. Jame’s Primary
2012-13


Scottish Borders
Duns Primary
2013-14


Shetland 
Happyhansel Primary
2013-14


South Ayrshire
Ayr Academy
2014-15


South Lanarkshire
Spittal Primary
2011-12


Stirling
Riverside Primary 
2011-12


West Dunbartonshire 
Dumbarton Academy 
2011-12


West Lothian
Pumpherston and Uphall Station Primary
2010-11

Scottish Environment Protection Agency

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it would expect the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) management to consult SEPA staff prior to taking decisions that significantly affect staff.

Roseanna Cunningham: I can confirm that SEPA is fully committed to the wellbeing of its staff and SEPA senior management fully engage with staff before taking decisions that will significantly affect SEPA staff. Any proposed changes to SEPA’s organisational structure and to the way it delivers its services are operational matters for the agency itself.

Scottish Environment Protection Agency

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is satisfied that the proper procedures were followed by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) when it was considering the closure of its laboratory building in Dingwall.

Roseanna Cunningham: Any proposed changes to SEPA’s organisational structure and to the way it delivers its services are operational matters for the agency itself. I am aware that SEPA informed all Line Managers of Dingwall based staff of the decision to close the Dingwall laboratory and held a meeting with all staff to be affected on 14 May 2010.

Wildlife

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what Forestry Commission Scotland’s policy advice is on the creation of new designated wildlife sites.

Roseanna Cunningham: Forestry Commission Scotland (FCS) serves as the Scottish Government’s forestry directorate and is consulted where necessary on any forestry issues that may arise when creating new designated wildlife sites. Although the detail of such advice depends on particular circumstances, it is formulated within the context of FCS’s biodiversity programme for 2008-11 which is published as Woods for Nature .

Wildlife

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that the Scottish Forestry Strategy targets can be met without damaging existing or proposed European wildlife sites.

Roseanna Cunningham: Yes. The Scottish Forestry Strategy, launched in 2006, set challenging targets across all its key themes, including environmental quality and biodiversity.